FORMER secretary for health and welfare, Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien, has issued her own challenge to Tung Wah Group of Hospitals chairman Deborah Kwan Siu Lai-kwan.
Mrs Wong has pledged to accompany Mrs Kwan should she accept a Sunday Morning Post challenge to sleep in the caged homes managed by the charity group . . . and earn up to $100,000 for Tung Wah in the process.
'If she needs a companion, I will help her. My offer stays even if she doesn't join me,' said Mrs Wong yesterday.
'By staying there I can see what they need. Maybe a fridge would help. One or two nights would be enough to tell.' The Post made its offer last week after Mrs Kwan said she could tolerate living in caged hostels at 52 Fuk Tsun Street and 1 Lime Street, Tai Kok Tsui, that are managed by Tung Wah. We are prepared to give the charity $20,000 for each night, up to a maximum of five, that she stays there.
'The place is not so bad,' said Mrs Kwan in response to our February 12 story revealing that the charity, which has long prided itself on its service to the elderly, was managing a caged hostel.
However, she later said: 'I would not contemplate staying there, because I simply do not need the publicity. I have raised more than enough money for Tung Wah.' Mrs Wong, a former Tung Wah Advisory Board member, said that during her time as health secretary from 1990 until her retirement last year, she was unaware of the caged homes.
